Method and apparatus for detecting internal rail defects

a technology of internal rail and ultrasonic inspection, which is applied in the direction of analysing solids using sonic/ultrasonic/infrasonic waves, measuring devices, instruments, etc., can solve the problem of normal difficulty or inability to detect defects

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-10-29
PAGANO DOMINICK A
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

Such defects are normally difficult or impossible to detect with ultrasonic beams directed perpendicular to the surface of the rail.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for detecting internal rail defects
  • Method and apparatus for detecting internal rail defects
  • Method and apparatus for detecting internal rail defects

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art two wheel ultrasonic inspection system 10 described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,648, which is arranged to detect flaws and defects in a length of test material M, illustrated as a rail having a substantially rectangular head 12 with an upper surface 13, a vertical web 14, and a base 16 with a bottom surface 17 typically resting on ties (not shown.)

[0023]Arranged for rolling contact along the upper surface 13 of rail head 12 are a leading test wheel 20 and a trailing test wheel 22. The wheels 20 and 22 rotate about fixed shafts 24 and 26 secured respectively to support arms 28 and 30 which are spring loaded downward by conventional means upon a carriage (not shown) which propels the wheels along the length of test material M.

[0024]As illustrated in FIG. 1 the leading and trailing wheels 20 and 22 have zero degree transducers 108 and 110 which are oriented to emit beams U2 of ultrasonic energy downward perpendicularly through Teflon (polyetrafluoroethyl...

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Abstract

An ultrasonic rail inspection system designed to detect defects in a rail which result from longitudinal cracks that propagate in the horizontal and transverse plane of the rail. Detection of this type of defect is possible by directing an ultrasonic beam into the rail at a predetermined angle from the perpendicular to the surface of the rail. The predetermined angle must be sufficient to detect these normally undetectable defects and can be in the range of 8° to 14° from the perpendicular.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableFIELD OF INVENTION[0004]This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the ultrasonic inspection of a test material and more particularly to the ultrasonic inspection of a railroad rail which may contain detail fractures caused by metal fatigue.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reported, as of Dec. 1, 2006, that between 1995 and 2005 a total of 276 derailments occurred on the four Class I U.S. railroads and that these derailments were caused by broken rails. One of these derailments occurred on Mar. 17, 2001 and involved the Amtrak California Zephyr bound from Chicago to Oakland, Calif. This derailment caused one fatality, 77 injuries and $338 million dollars in property damage. The cause...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01N29/04
CPCG01N29/07G01N29/225G01N2291/2623G01N2291/0289G01N29/265
Inventor PAGANO, DOMINICK A.
Owner PAGANO DOMINICK A
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